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Sandown planning board narrowly rejects alternate‑member appointment for Diane Romick
Summary
Candidate Diane Romick, a Sandown resident with a landscape architecture background, was considered for an alternate seat but the planning board voted 4–3 not to appoint her at this time amid concerns about recent board transitions and ongoing legal matters.
Resident Diane Romick, who identified herself as having a background in landscape architecture, asked the Sandown Planning Board to be appointed as an alternate member.
Romick said she moved to Sandown five years ago and described past professional experience in landscape architecture and volunteer HOA service. "I'm a rules are the rules kind of person," Romick said in support of her candidacy.
Board members debated whether to add another alternate while the panel undergoes recent membership turnover and several contentious hearings and legal actions. Chair John White said he preferred pausing new appointments until the board’s transitional issues settle. Several other members argued that having additional alternates would help when seated members are recused or unavailable.
A motion to elect Romick as an alternate was made and seconded; the vote did not carry. The chair reported the result as 4–3 against appointment. White encouraged Romick to continue attending meetings and said the board may reconsider after a few months.
